Middle Holly Cottage Tea Room and Cake Parlour - Afternoon tea

In Lancashire we pride ourselves on a warm and friendly welcome and there is no finer way to spend an afternoon then enjoying the delights of afternoon tea. On a cold blustery spring day we ventured forth to Middle Holly Cottage in Forton for such an afternoon.

On our journey up to Forton where Middle Holly is situated, we saw the cars temperature gauge plumet by 3 degrees and experienced hail, rain and thunder. Fortunately for us Middle Holly is really easy to find being situated just of the A6 and on arrival we were warmly welcomed into the cosy tea room and cake parlour by Gill who runs Middle Holly with her husband Andy. 

Originally from Cheshire but now firmly settled in Lancashire, Gill and I enjoyed a lovely chat about all things food, the WI (she's a member just like me), the Clandestine Cake club, catering for free from diets and Lancashire in general.

Gill is really passionate about her beautiful B and B and tea room being the best they possibly can and she carefully features the best  quality local and seasonal produce on her menu's. She wants all her customers to experience a warm, genuine and memorable experience when staying or eating at Middle Holly.

Gill makes all her own bread, cakes, jams, chutneys and her eggs come from her own  garden hens and sources all her other ingredients as locally as she can. For example she proudly serves Dewlay's Lancashire Cheese, which is little a few minutes walk down the road.

We were invited to experience the Deluxe Afternoon tea which was served in the pretty Garden Room area, thoughtfully decorated in country pastels and the tea, cakes and sandwiches all served on eclectic vintage china, complete with home knitted and crocheted tea cosies by Gill's Mum !

We started our tea with a shot glass of homemade seasonal vegetable soup, very tasty and flavourful which was very welcome given the weather outside, Gill makes sure that when she blends her soup you still have little chunks of vegetables so you can really taste the fresh vegetables in the soup.

Next came our tottering tower (cake stand), strewned with viola flowers, salad and herb leaves, and bedecked with finger sandwiches of home cooked ham, egg mayonnaise and Lancashire cheese and homemade chutney, all served on homemade organic bread. Gill likes to ring the changes and try different flours in the bread baking (most of the bread is made by Andy), so our selection was farmhouse white and  a seeded bread. The sandwiches were delicious, generously filled  and the homemade bread makes such a difference to the taste experience. Alongside our sandwiches we also had a little bowl of Lancashire Crisps, we love those too and again show careful thoughtful sourcing.

Our next  cake stand layer was a fruity raspberry fool served in a pretty vintage teacup and homemade crisp and light chocolate eclairs. The fool was perfectly balanced in terms of sweetness and tartness so as not to be cloying, the eclairs light and airy and filled with fluffy whipped cream.

The top layer of the stand has two huge pieces of cake, which we split in half so both myself and Mr LF could experience the floral rose and almond cake and slated caramel layer cake. Again all homemade, We particularly loved the salted caramel layer cake with its salty yet sweet topping. By this stage we were getting very full so we agreed with Gill to take away our scones (choice of fruit or plain), if you can squeeze them in they come accompanied with cream and  a choice of Gills Homemade jams. The scones are huge, and unlike a lot of other scones I have tried, not in the least bit disappointingly dry and tasteless, these were light and tasty, they were our treat later in the day when we returned home with the last of our homemade rhubarb and strawberry jam.

Last but not least a handmade homemade truffle each, just to round things off !! 

Outside Middle Holly has views over to the Bowland Hills, a little misty and obscured whilst we were there due to the inclement downpour but stunning non the less. 

We loved our visit to Middle Holly and meeting and chatting with Gill, despite it being an awful day the tea room was still fairly busy, so if you are planning a visit I would book just to be on the safe side as given the high standard of afternoon tea and cake on offer, Middle Holly is sure to be very popular. The tea room is currently open Thursday, Friday and Saturday and in the summer on Sundays too.

Check out the website for further details of the tea room and B and B. 

Our meal was provided free of charge for review purposes, we were not compelled to write a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Cheese of the Month - No 16

Garstang White - a new cheese for Lancashire

I am really pleased to be able to feature a new Lancashire cheese, fortunately for us we were one of the first people in the country to taste Garstang White by Dewlay as Mr LF was photographing the cheese.

Garstang White is made in Lancashire and is made with creamy rich Jersey milk, mold ripened like a brie this cheese perfectly fits a gap in the market for a locally produced creamy oozy versatile cheese which is ideal for cooking or melting.

The cheese is available in 225g packs or in deli wheels of 1kg for slicing, the cheese matures in the same way as a brie and becomes increasingly more flavourful and oozy as the cheese matures. Dewlay are currently struggling to keep with the initial high demand as Garstang White is proving a popular addition to the Lancashire Cheese board and in now featured on various local restaurants menus.

Currently available from Dewlays cheese shop and various selected independent cheese shops ( I know Pats Cheese stall in Chorley has it) in the region, given its popularity I am sure Booths will also be stocking soon.

February - Cheese of the Month

This months Cheese of the month is 

How's Yer Father
Saddleworth Cheese Company


Check out the the post here

Cheese of the Month

Lancashire Food has decided that as inspiration to encourage you to buy more British Cheese and to try something different, we are starting a monthly cheese club. We are really pleased to support local producers and we hope tempt you to buy more British Cheese.

We have a lovely logo too, kindly designed by Mr Lancashire Food also know as Sixes and Seven design house. 

So every time we are buying cheese we will attempt to purchase something we haven't tried before and blog about it, of course keeping it from within the UK, I am going to try were possible to feature Lancashire Cheese's too. Its also really important that if at all possible that you purchase your cheese from independent cheese shops, market stalls, cheesemongers and deli's, outlets such as these are much more likely to have a better selection of artisan local cheeses and know the provenance of their stock. Luckily near to me I also have the wonderful regional supermarket chain Booths who are also great supporters of British cheese, other favourites are Liverpool Cheese, Pats Cheese stall on Chorley Market and The Cheese Shop @ Botany Bay.

So follow our adventures in cheese and take a tour round the fantastic produce of the British 
Isles.

May 2014 - Garstang White - Dewlay

March 2014 - Nannykins - Leagrams Cheese

February 2014 - How's Yer Father - Saddleworth Cheese Company

January 2014 - Sykes Fell Ewe's milk cheese - Greenfields Diary

December 2013 - Smoked Goats cheese from Garstang

Novenber 2013 - Booths Cheese from Booths and Dewlay Cheese

October 2013 - Fiery Jack from Kickass Cheese

September 2013 - Pextenement Devils Rock Blue

August 2013 - Dewlay Smoked Lancashire Cheese

July 2013 - Kickass Cheddar

June 2013 - Ramshackle

May 2013 - Kidderton Ash

April 2013 - Bowland Cheese

March 2013 - Leigh Toaster - Dewlay Cheese

February 2013 - Double Gloucester

January 2013 - Garstang Garlicky Goats Cheese

Botany Bay Foodhall

I paid a visit yesterday to Botany Bay for the uninitiated this is an area of Chorley (not the penal colony in Australia)  where there is a massive mill complex that now has a new life as  a multi floored retail outlet, in the last six month or so the ground floor has been transformed in a haven of foodie delights.

Its a great place for both your regular shop as you will find all the artisan producers and retailers all under one roof. There is a butcher, baker, fishmonger, cheese shop, delicatessen  wine and beer shop, ice cream parlour, chocolaterie, amongst others all creating and selling fabulous produce, a lot of it local too.

Please pay them all a visit and support your local independents, it nice to be able to chat to knowledgeable people who are passionate about they are selling and may be even sample the wares too !

Amongst others are Choc Amour , The Cheese Shop, Ye Olde Sausage Shop, All you knead ,
Delish Deli , Tootsies, Drinks Cabinet

Choc Amour

Delish Deli

All You knead bakery

Chocolate delights

The Cheese Shop

Spiral Pasta with tasty creations Lancashire cheese sauce, mushrooms and parma ham

Recently here at Lancashire Food, we were approached by Tasty Creations a local company who produces ready made luxury cheese sauces from great local produce to sample their sauces. 

Tastycreations is small specialist food company based in the North West and they produce a range of premium cheese sauces using some of the excellent award winning local and British produced cheeses and specialist food ingredients. They buy their cheeses and milk from Lancashire and Cheshire, herbs from Yorkshire, onions from Lancashire, stock from Cheshire and their packaging is made in the UK. In the Lancashire Cheese sauce they use award winning DEWLAY Tasty Lancashire cheese. 

Having worked in the food industry for many years, Steven uses his culinary skills and knowledge of the specialist food and drink industry to produce a delicious selection of cheese sauces that are both convenient and versatile to use.

The sauces can be poured hot on top of chicken, fish, meat, pork, vegetables, potatoes or use as a cooking sauce to make a fish pie, pasta, lasagne, quiche, soufflé or use it as a dip. The chilled sauces  take two minutes to re-heat and can also be frozen for up to three months. They have also won a Great Taste Gold award in 2012.

We have chosen to use the sauces in a couple of recipes but they would also be great alongside a steak in the case of the Garstang Blue sauce , simple fish or grilled chicken and I am sure your cauliflower cheese would be enhanced by one of these fine sauces.

Our favourite was the "Lancashire Cheese Sauce" of course, in which you could really taste the Lancashire cheese l, this was a great base sauce for this pasta dish.

Ingredients 

• 1 pot of Tasty Creations Lancashire Cheese Sauce
• Fusilli pasta - suitable quantity for the number of portions you are making
• Mushrooms - thinly sliced
• Prosciutto or parma ham - finely sliced
• Parmesan cheese to serve
• A little olive oil

Method

• cook your pasta in boiling water for the specified time on the packet
• Whilst the pasta is cooking, quickly fry off the mushrooms in a little oil, once cooked add the Tasty Creations sauce
• Cook until the sauce is hot
• Now add the ham or prosciutto
• Serve over your drained cooked pasta, sprinkle with some freshly grated Parmesan to serve

Tasty Creations sauces are available from a number of outlets, details on the website.

Ellseys 80th Birthday !

As you all know I love all things Lancashire, especially if it involves food, so Lancashire Food was delighted to receive an invitation  to a born and bred  Lancashire company's 80th birthday celebration. Now I know you are all thinking whats glamorous about vinegar ? well vinegar is a very versatile thing and is a very ancient product. The other great thing about Ellsey's vinegar is that this particular vinegar is used in loads of amazing local products too, so that they are true Lancashire produce.

A True Lancashire Lunch 

Ellseys is based in Wigan and is still a family owned company, started by a Mr Walter Ellsey initially to brew malt vinegar in 1932 , the company now focuses on supplying a wide variety of vinegars to wholesalers and producers around the world.

I have only recently discovered that my late maternal Grand-dads favourite pickles aand picalilli are produced by Ellsey's oldest customer, what's funny is that the company is Bartons pickles from St Helens (where my Grand-dad was from) yet the vinegar that goes into all their products is from Wigan, the rivalry between Wigan and St Helens is legendary ! mainly due to the local rugby teams I think but may be just a little from the pickles too.

In celebration of their birthday, Ellsey's had contacted a local artisan brewery to brew up a celebration beer, Prospect brewery ( as featured in several tv shows with Oz Clark, et al ) based  the beer on their already famous "big john" dark stout , the addition of vinegar has lightened the brew and provides a fruity end to the glass.

The party at the brewery also featured nibbles from some great local producers, many who use Ellseys vinegar in their products, and vinegar shrub cocktails (alcoholic and non alcoholic)  were also served. Lancashire Food enjoyed having some very interesting food and also vinegar chats with some of the staff from Ellseys and was excited to hear their ideas for the future and their passion for all things vinegar.

We also met Luke Marsden ( ex big brother housemate and radio presenter) and proud Wiganer at the time I didn't know who he was, just that he was on Rock Fm (local radio station) , we had some great discussions about food, vinegar and cake. We also managed to get him addicted to Lancashire cheese and Lancashire crisps in the process whilst sampling the cocktails.

In celebration of Ellsey's birthday I will be re-working my vinegar cake posting and having a go at vinegar pie too ! So watch out for these forthcoming posts.

Our goodie bag featured samples of

Ellseys birthday brew from Prospect Brewery

Ellseys fruit vinegars in various flavours

Bartons pickles in various varieties

Mrs Darlingtons chutney

Dewlay Lancashire Cheese

Lancashire crisps -salt and Ellseys vinegar flavour

Elleseys also supply

Wormersley

Fatjax

Wing Yip

and Del Monte too.

The amazing food photography on this post is by the very talented Mr Lancashire Food aka as Synergy Monochrome , he has also posted on his blog of what he has been upto with regard to post

Preston Cake City

As part of the celebrations for Preston Guild 2012 , Preston City is to be built in cake !

Myself and a number of other avid cake bakers in the area quickly signed up for the challenge of building an iconic building in PRESTON in cake.

Our chosen building 

Preston Cake City is to be built in a victorian square in the city centre as part of the "Square Food Festival" which is in turn part of the Vintage Guild. Preston guild is an ancient merchant guild celebration which dates back from 1179 and is the oldest of its kind in the country. The Guild only occurs once every 20 years , we even have a local saying of "once every Preston guild", meaning something that happens very infrequently.

Sue, Carla, Kate, Jo, Hazel and myself have all come together along with some great local sponsors
Dewlay
Artisan Foodworks
Mick The Egg man Brooks
Foodlink Lancashire
and my hubby, local design house 6 and  7's to create a pyramid shaped building which resides on the sides of the entrance to the closed dock area of Preston and controls the swingbridge over the entrance.

Our creations have been forming for the last month or so, baking and freezing and deciding on cake mixes and tin sizes and how many eggs, how much butter,which flour.

Created using vanilla sponges, butter cream and fondant icing and even Blackpool Rock, the creation is taking shape.

Its been great fun, but also very stressful, will the building stand up ? what will the weather do on the day ? will it look anything like what is supposed too, how will we transport it  !
Ace of Cakes, Cake boss and numerous other TV programmes come to mind.

Final touches will be made to the cake on Saturday 1st September, on the same day an edible map of the city is being created by the public and then on Sunday the 2nd , we deliver our cake for public viewing and ultimately consumption by the public !

Cake carving of the mid section and the decoration of the base layer where completed on the friday evening, the top section and the mid section were completed on the Saturday along with a dry run of the final assembly, Hubby kindly worked out how to transport and pack the cake for the Sunday delivery. 

We dropped off the cake at approx 11.30 am and then had to wait patiently whilst the finishing touches went on the map, all completed by about 3pm and then judging was held of the bakers favourite cake and then consumption by the general public. This was like the feeding of the 5000 !!!! 

Great fun but very tiring ! Fabulous community event and a lovely focus for the Square Food Festival event and a great way to celebrate the city.

Thanks again to 

Lancashire Platter @ Dunkirk Hall

As you all know we love our local food here at Lancashire Food and had noticed that a local pub was tweeting about their local special "The Lancashire Platter",  so we had to go and give it a try didn't we.

Dunkirk Hall is very old pub on the outskirts of Leyland which over the last few years has had mixed fortunes, the foodie landlady Donna loves local food and has worked really hard to provide an appealing menu which features some local food, in fact so great is her love of all things local that she has opened a mini tea shop cum deli at the back of the pub, more of that later.

Back to the Lancashire Platter - an attractive alternative to the traditional ploughmans, featured in the platter is Creamy Lancashire Cheese from Dewlay cheese, a fab slice of pie from the Great North Pie company, home made scotch egg, bread from a local bakery, Fiddlers Lancashire Crisps, salad, homemade coleslaw and date and pear chutney from Hawkshead Relish.

All in all a fab platter, it disappeared very quickly. The pie I have to say was the star, but the other goodies were also very tasty.

Little D's at the back of the pub fortunately sells most of the goodies featured in the platter plus Stockleys Old Fashioned Sweeties, Mr Fitzpatricks Cordials, Bury Black Puddings, Agnes Rose Vinegars and Oils and also Ice Creams too. Little D's also has a few outside tables if the pub atmosphere isn't for you where you can take afternoon tea.